LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
It won't take long to get administrative issues at the Village of Fort Simpson straightened out, if incoming senior administrative officer Bill Bennett has anything to say about it.

Bill Bennett: Is Fort Simpson's new senior administrative officer. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

As he settles in to life in the village with his wife and two children, Bennett says he looks forward to the challenge of the job.

"From what I've seen over the first week, there's a lot of administrative issues - files that haven't been kept up. I see some issues with that," Bennett said when asked what he plans to tackle first.

"There's a lot of administrative stuff that needs to be dealt with. I think it's going to take probably two or three years to get it to the point where everything is where it should be and running smoothly."

But instead of shying away from the workload in front of him, Bennett said it is one of the things that drew him to the position in the first place.

"Traditionally, that's what I have looked for. I have not ever gone to a community that is running perfectly and has no issues. I like communities that have challenges," he said.

"If I could come in and just go with the flow, I think I'd be bored."

Bennett, who moved to Fort Simpson from Ulukhaktok in order to take on the administration job, has a history as a fixer. Having originally made a 15-year career with the territorial government, working for Human Resources, Municipal and Community Affairs as well as the Department of Executive, Bennett got his start in administrating in Nunavut, when an administrator was needed for the hamlet of Pangnirtung.

At the time, the hamlet was faced with a $1-million deficit, no procedures and policies and a lack of administration.

Under Bennett's watch, the deficit turned into a surplus and the hamlet was left with reserve funds for future vehicle purchases.

Born in Nova Scotia, Bennett's family moved North when he was a child. He grew up in Yellowknife and took public administration at Thebacha College, now known as Aurora College, before being recruited by then-commissioner John Parker to work for the territorial government.

Before coming to Fort Simpson, he'd spent four years in Ulukhaktok as its chief administrative officer.

"I love working in municipal government. It's where you actually get to make a difference," he said.

Moving south, he added, comes as a relief for his family. Better services - especially Internet - and less isolation were two thing that drew the family south.

The small things are also helping the family settle in - the presence of trees, for one thing, better weather and also the fact there is a road out of Fort Simpson.

"Our idea was, when we left (Ulukhaktok), we'd go somewhere where everybody would be happy - my wife, the kids, me - and look at staying. So now, my kids can go through the school system, make friends and stay that way until they're finished school," he said, adding his children are already settling in at school and into after-school activities such as the Open Doors programming.

"My six-year-old, I see her arrive home when I do at five o'clock. She's loving it," he said with a laugh.

"My wife said to her the other day, 'Maybe Thursday, after school, you can come home and work on your homework.' And she said, 'No! I have to go to the program!'"